I love it here! My fiancé works for IEX so I often spend a lot of time here watching the helicopters land and take off. They pour a stiff delicious drink and the service is great. I love how it feels like an old western bar and their menu has tons of options! I've had their nachos which are decent and a large portion. I love their salads, they're fresh and delicious! I highly recommend their fries, I get them with a side of ranch and Buffalo sauce. So yummy! It's a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun family spot! read more

I've been coming to Catalina for years and I can't believe I didn't discover this place sooner. It's not located on the main strip. It's south of the main strip, past the Catalina Landing and next to the IEX Helicopters. If you don't have a golf cart to get there, fear not. Call them up for a pickup within town. On busy weekends, they shuttle people to and from town. Just stand in the area in front of the Pancake Cottage. Dinner and drinks were amazing! I've tasted the salmon, fish tacos, chicken wings, and steak. Agustin and Pedro are awesome! Fabulous, friendly, and attentive. They have a cozy inside and outside seating area and I went when we were still allowed to dine in. I can't wait to eat here again! read more

Buffalo Nickel - I love their chicken wings! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

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a little hard to reach if you're just walking around but we rented a golf cart nearby (3hr/price of 2 by the dock) and spent our last hour eating here buffalo burger -- this is the only one i tried in avalon but i liked it. i'm an in and out kind of guy and while this isn't that at all, the thing i enjoy about both is having lots of crisp, fresh veggies flautas, carnitas -- big, crispy outside, soft inside, good would definitely eat here again! thank you for the great food! read more

Good food, great wait staff, strong drinks, cute setting, hopping crowd, and a fun location that's a little over a mile out of town. We walked there (sunset hour) and back (stars!), but you can get a ride there and back instead. read more

Granted you get a free meal here for your birthday, I don't think I'd come back for that next time. There were too many flies, inside and outside the restaurant. They seemed short staffed too. We didn't get refills or even get asked how our meal was. The food wasn't so bad. Ordered the birthday nachos...they look much better in photos. Also ordered the shrimp and chips which were pretty ordinary. 3 stars for me :( read more

Buffalo Nickel - Carnitas Nachos - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

It's a mile away from Avalon around the bend past the golf carts, or they shuttle you over for free! Pretty good! Excellent service, food was a bit more then what I felt you get but otherwise it's worth it to try it out. I got the chicaleues w carne asada! It was delicious pic below! Average prices run from $11-15, good food! read more

The food is FIVE STARS. The best ceviche we've had in 20 years, maybe ever. It's made the way ceviche should be made. And you get a lot of it. Five stars right there. The chile relleno is legit! And they are huge. Five stars again. The prices are half of what the other front street tourist traps cost. Five stars again! The wait staff is great. Very chill. Our waiter remembered our meal from two nights prior... that's impressive. Five stars again! And yes, the food was so good (and the prices fair) that we went back a second night (for the ceviche and relleno). The downsides are: 1) the shuttle is a bit sketchy. Call ahead for the shuttle and wait... and wait. If you have a golf cart, use it. 2) the place ain't much to look at, from any angle. But then again, a lot of places aren't the same due to Covid. So there's that. All in all, best Mexican food in Avalon, bar none. Again the food is five stars. Go there! And then thank me after you ordered the ceviche. read more

Nice casual atmosphere - seating outside, inside, or at the bar - nice secluded spot away from the hustle & bustle of Avalon Food was really good: wife had the nachos from the free birthday menu and I had the Mahi Mahi fish tacos -- both were huge servings of food compared to similar restaurants on the mainland (pictures of each plate are posted her as well) Pricing is below the average cost compared to most restaurants in Avalon, that's a plus It's about a mile west of town along Pebbly Beach Dr. - you can either call the restaurant for their shuttle (minivan) or walk it for a nice ocean-side stroll past Lover's Cove & Pebbly Beach --- NOTE: as of 8/8/2016, Yelp inaccurately shows the location of the restaurant (by boat docks) - see my pic of the correct location (posted on 8/8/16) I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy this quality "dive" style restaurant And FYI: they serve Mexican food, Burgers, Sandwiches and more... read more

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Food is great! Delivery time is terrible. 2.5 hours and food STILL not here. Called them twice to inquire. "It's on its way."

You don't need to go anywhere else on the island. The food, the people, the atmosphere, and the prices are the best anywhere in Avalon. We have been back here every day since we arrived, and when we come back in August this will be our place. You cannot get better food. Whoever is in that kitchen really knows what they're doing, from the fryer to a perfectly grilled ribeye and perfectly cooked shrimp scampi. We have not had a less than perfect experience here yet. They obviously take great pride in what they do, and it shows. Best place on Catalina, no question! read more

Great place and food was all good I would recommend Buffalo nickel. Family friendly as well. read more

Amazing .... all should try they will pick u up downtown and drive you out the Mexican shrimp cocktail was amazing.... Great price and good wine and drinks ....I don't want to post because I do r want it to become too popular where I can't get in .... definitely a local place. Amazing food and great prices. .... totally worth it !!!! read more

Buffalo Nickel - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

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Shuttle never showed up. We called from the boat to find out about the shuttle and the worker said to just call when we get to shore and they will come right over to get us. When we got to shore we called and were told they would be right there they were leaving immediately. 15 minutes later the shuttle wasn't there so we called back and they said they were so sorry and would be there in less then 5 minutes. Another 15 minutes later we walked to a restaurant in town. It's too bad because we really wanted to try this place but if this is how they handle customers we won't be going there ever. read more

They offer a complimentary shuttle service but they may also leaving you waiting and make you miss your boat time and you are left eating snacks for dinner on the way home. Just saying. read more

Great food and the best customer service. The nachos are so yummy and the portion size is good for at least two people

Food was ok - better than it had been in the years past. What was not ok was telling us they only had a 7 pm reservation and then not serving our food until 8:30 pm. We literally did not get out of the restaurant until 9:15 and we had two 5 year olds with us. I understand Catalina is busy in the summer, but don't take reservations if you don't have the capacity. The food was not special enough to return to this restaurant. read more

Party of 5 and everyone was happy. Seafood ceviche was outstanding only to be outdone by the Mexican shrimp cocktail. Carnitas were awesome too. Great food and great service. read more

The best little family-owned and run restaurant on Catalina Island. 8 of us had dinner in their beautiful outdoor patio .... Everyone loved their meal and especially loved the BBQ ribs as well as the Chicken Fajitas. The newly remodeled bathrooms were also a surprise and show that they really care about the customers. One shortfall is a total lack of any Vegetarian options on the menu. The Mexican fare is made with traditional lard so chips and beans etc were out. Being a vegetarian I had to settle for a grilled cheese sandwich with fries and slaw but still enjoyed the place for what it is. Would be nice if they added a Beyond burger or similar to the menu. Beautiful walk to the restaurant or they will come to pick you up for free from central Avalon. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Well I'm back against my better judgement and the food and service remains sub par. We had three separate meals including tacos and big burritos. I was not sure it was beef in the three entrees but it tasted like it came from same can. Where the heck do they come off serving such garbage. To keep us out of future misery we won't come back and hopefully you will heed my advice. read more

Best Ceviche in Southern California! They will even send a shuttle to pick you up. Some places serve dry Ceviche but not this place. Cool servers and nice atmosphere. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Ceviche (Fish Ceviche no add ons) - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

The best ceviche on the island!!!! Ride a bike over to the restaurant, you won't regret it. A gem on the end.

My family enjoyed each dish we ordered. The pastrami on rye was really good. My son ordered chicken nuggets from the kids menu and he loved them. And my wife got a buffalo burger and she liked it as well. Our server was really kind and made an enjoyable experience for us. read more

My Son, his best friend and I ate at The Buffalo Nickel for a late lunch to while our last hour on Catalina Island. What a great trip for 3.5 days. Great way to end your trip if leaving by Island Express Helicopters located outside the restaurant. The food and drinks were amazing. The staff is super friendly with amazing service. I left my backpack under the table. Tony, my hero found it and gave it to IEX and they flew it back to LB. Uber came to pick it up and I'm happy to say it is on its way home. Thank You Tony and IEX Helicopters of Long Beach. The Best people! read more

I'm actually super surprised by the low rating for this restaurant. It is THE hidden gem of the island! Great, consistent food - I've loved everything I've had! Added bonus is the pizza delivery!! read more

Buffalo Nickel is nearly a hidden gem, off the beaten path by the heliport. Not fancy, but the classic cantina style and good food are definitely worth the price. The homemade salsa and chips are great, buffalo burger is good. We'll have to come back to try the fried tilapia dish. read more

everything went well before until we paid and asked about the service asking for tips and never gave us a shuttle back to hotel

Great service and fun atmosphere. Check out the Baja tacos on Tuesday and fridays!! Good Italian dinner on Monday nights too. We love this little tucked away gem. Gotta come check it out. read more

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Mexican restaurant near the town's gas station at pebbly beach. Seated in a booth outdoors. Kind of a dark booth. Ordered beef fajitas (meat strips were tender and onions and peppers cooked well with nice flavor) and chips/salsa. Not bad but not over the moon special. Service was okay. Had to get the key from the bar for the bathroom if needed. Four star review. 3 1/2 if I could do that. read more

Amazing place, fresh out of Covid it's exactly what you need. Amazing ambiance and great food/drinks. Ask for Rafael (Raffy) for the best time ever. read more

Amazing food!!! Me and my boyfriend had a 5 day trip to Catalina Island and we kept coming back here to try new things because of how delicious everything was. 10/10 recommend. Must try everything here... will be coming back!! Service is great too. All of the employees are super nice and treat customers very well. read more

Great place to visit if you're in Avalon. Cute concept, friendly staff, decent food/ drinks. It's an especially nice place to relax and unwind after a long hike. There's a trail close by. Prices are reasonable and they have good seafood options. Stop by! read more

They have a free shuttle that will pick you up and drop you back off at Avalon! What a great service. The free wet burrito was HUGE and such a great deal. Usually birthday deals are tiny, but they are very generous here. The green sauce was perfect and we were very satisfied. Check it out on your birthday! read more

Definitely gotta try the buffalo burger, it's the bomb. Great customer service and the island is amazing.

First time here and I loved it! Not only is the food amazing, but the customer service is great! I believe it's a family owned business with children working, but never the less even the children are professional and great servers! I got the ribs with the fries and loved them. Definitely coming back when I'm on the island again. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Bbq ribs and fries. - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

This restaurant is a bit out of the way, but excellent ribs, steaks and seafood! A must visit! read more

Went to Catalina Island on my bday and wanted to take advantage of the free meal at Buffalo Nickel. I took the Catalina Express over to Avalon, and I suggest that when you're 10 minutes away from docking call the shuttle so they can be there ready to scoop you up once you get off the boat (if eating is the first thing you want to do). A minivan picked us up and we went up the street to pickup another couple that was celebrating a bday as well. It's a quick drive to the restaurant, and once we got there the place was empty. As soon as we were seated and eating, the place began to fill up. I judge a Mexican restaurant by chips and salsa and/or their frozen strawberry margarita. I felt like I ate too many chips in the past month, so I skipped that and went straight for the drink (it's my bday why not??) All I can say is that if I had room, I would've ordered 2 strawberry margaritas. It was so freaking delicious!!! I ordered the wet burrito from the bday menu and it was filling. I heard about the buffalo milk, but had no room in my belly to try it! Will definitely check that out next time. The decor was cool and we ate fast and took a golf cart shuttle back. It was nice to sit in the back and see the water and road behind us. read more

Buffalo Nickel - This frozen strawberry margarita was so damn good!! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

This is an 'off-the-beaten-path' restaurant that the locals frequent...and a few tourists. Since they closed Pebbly Beach Road to the golf carts because of landslides and falling rocks you have to call their shuttle service that picks you up by the Pancake House. Riding in that van made me feel like I was in Tijuana! The restaurant is quaint and quiet and has outdoor seating for those that want to take advantage of the normally awesome Catalina weather. The food is good and reasonably priced for a restaurant on the island. They have a great bar and make a mean drink called "Buffalo Milk"! http://www.buffalonickelrestaurant.com/ read more

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Had lunch here Sunday while we were in Catalina with the suggestions of our tour guide and really should have just stayed on the strip. They do have free shuttle service. We had the patty melt with french fries, beef quesadilla, onion rings, 1/2 lb hamburger with french fries and fish tacos. Iced tea to drink. Food was adequate read more

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Hey everyone comes here for the free birthday meal. I did! Yassss! Why not? Had to chase down the shuttle guy after we got off the 11am Cat Express boat. There were signs for taxis but it was not so clear where the Buffalo Nickel stop was. We flagged down the shuttle guy in front of the Catherine hotel. I forgot his name but he was entertaining and the ride to the Buffalo Nickel was scenic. I suppose you could walk but it's treacherous with all the 'falling rocks' signs. There was only one other couple there and we chose to dine outside. Which was fine with me since it was middle of the week. I'm not one of those sheeple that like to stand in line for anything. I put on the birthday badge and was given the birthday menu. You can choose burgers, sandwiches etc...quite a variety. We were hungry but not enough to buy separate entrees so we shared my bday meal. I chose carnitas nachos and it was a big heaping of pork, cheese and chips. It satisfied our appetite right away and we were done. No dessert menu. The drink in the clay pot was interesting, a mix of tequila and sodas. Didn't give me a hangover. Service was quick and shuttle driver came around, asked us when we wanted to go back to Front street. Buffalo Nickel is in a secluded location, away from all the crowds. Not beach front but this fit my birthday needs. ****Tipped the shuttle driver going and coming. Cause that's what I do. No bachi, only good karma. Definitely a place you should visit once, especially on your birthday. read more

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Buffalo burger just tasted like a burger. It wasn't a bad burger, as burgers go, but it wasn't really worth the trek, probably even factoring in that it was free. Service was terrible, and my girlfriend's seafood sampler platter... mostly looked like someone had gone out to costco, bought some stuff from the frozen section, and microwaved it. Badly. The "signature drink" (buffalo milk) was decent at least, but still not really worth either the price or the trek. There's a reason they give out free birthday meals - cause nobody would ever show up otherwise. I have a feeling it was someone's birthday in basically every group there . Oh, and somehow, despite getting driven a couple miles to a location that's right next to the water, they chose one of the ugliest possible "right next to the water" spots to put a restaurant. You can't even really see the water, being other buildings in the way, but you certainly *can* see (and hear, and feel) helicopters coming and going from the nearby heliport. read more